Research firm IDC has lowered its forecast for the PC market in 2026. According to the new assessment, global PC shipments are now expected to decline by 11.3%, compared to the previous forecast of a 2.4% drop. Tablet shipments are also expected to fall by 7.6%.
The decline is attributed to memory shortages, rising component prices, and ongoing disruptions to supply chains — problems IDC believes could affect production well into 2027. The research firm notes that this latest forecast was developed before the conflict in the Middle East reached its current intensity.
Despite fewer units shipped, market value is expected to increase slightly, as higher component costs drive up prices for computers and tablets. IDC also estimates that truly inexpensive computers might become rarer in the future, as the industry adapts to a new normal with higher prices.
